Is your food really organic?Benefits and tips

Regardless of your preferred diet, choosing organic food is always a smart move. Organic food is not only ideal for your personal health but also for the planetary state as most organic foods are sustainably grown.

The demand for organic food has been growing steadily in the past years; however, the issue of organic food has become central in today’s contemporary life.

Organic food is touted to be free of any chemicals and is known to be full of nutrition, taste, and nourishment that is sustainable.

When people think organic, one of the very first things to come to mind is earth friendly; organic regulatory bodies ensure that farming practices and production of organic food are monitored and regulated.

This ensures that the food quality is maintained as the produce is not contaminated with any chemicals.

What are the benefits of organic food?

Chemical free

Eating organic food is the best way to avoid the cocktail of chemicals that are applied on commercially grown food.

When selecting food, organic food should contain a label which helps to ensure that the food does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, additives or preservatives, which are all components that our bodies can do without.

More nutritious

Organically grown food is deemed more nutritious than the commercially grown variety. The soil used for growing the food is managed and nourished with sustainable manure and compost, which primarily comes from biodegradable animal refuse.

Organic food is also known to contain more minerals and nutrients such as phosphorus and iron, which are beneficial to your health.

Non-GMO

A lot of the foods available today on the market are genetically engineered or contain genetically modified organisms that contaminate the food to make it less nutritious and beneficial to the body.

A lot of GMO foods do not have to be labeled in the country of production, therefore, it is impossible to tell which ones are GMO or not unless you buy organic.

How to choose organic food

Although the benefits of organic food are clear, sometimes the process of looking for organic food is complicated. If you are not sure about how to buy organic food,

here are some tips that can help

1- Understand what the labels mean

Understanding the labels is important as the labels prove that the food you purchase is truly organic.

Most organic fruits and vegetables contain the PLU (Price Look Up) sticker which contains a 5 digit code beginning with the number 9. Any PLU number beginning with 8 is genetically modified and might pose some health risks.

You should try to avoid PLU numbers that start with any other number than 9.

2- Join a CSA or find a farmer

The best way to ensure that your food is organic is to join a CSA or a green market in your local area.

Alternatively, you can also look for an organic farmer or a farmer’s market in your area that exclusively produces organic food. A whole greens store in your area is also a good place to start.

3- Ask a lot of questions

Whether you are buying fruits, vegetables, produce or clothes do not be shy to ask questions directly to your express supplier or grocery store manager.

Finding out more information about whether the produce is certified organic, grown using sustainable methods or grown locally will notify your store that these are all important things to you.

4- Find affordable organic food

Many individuals have a limited food budget that does not necessarily allow them to splurge on organic food.

If the prices are a concern to you, you should consider buying food that is in season or buying in bulk, which will save you some money. Alternatively, you can also invest or split shares in your local CSA, which always stockpile quality organic food.